Colbert coughed, took, opened, and read the letter, and then put it carefully away in his pocket, while Vanel turned over the leaves of the papers he had brought with him with an unmoved and unconcerned air. "Vanel," he said suddenly to his protege, "you are a hard-working man, I know; would twelve hours' daily labor frighten you?" "I work fifteen hours every day." "Impossible. A counselor need not work more than three hours a day in the parliament." "Oh! I am working up some returns for a friend of mine in the department of accounts, and, as I still have time left on my hands, I am studying Hebrew." "Your reputation stands high in the parliament, Vanel." "I believe so, monseigneur." "You must not grow rusty in your post of counselor." "What must I do to avoid it?" "Purchase a high place. Mean and low ambitions are very difficult to satisfy." "Small purses are the most difficult to fill, monseigneur." "What post have you in view?" said Colbert. "I see none--not one." "There is one, certainly, but one need be almost the king himself to be able to buy it without inconvenience! and the king will not be inclined, I suppose, to purchase the post of procureur-general." At these words, Vanel fixed his at once humble and dull look upon Colbert, who could hardly tell whether Vanel had comprehended him or not. "Why do you speak to me, monseigneur," said Vanel, "of the post of procureur-general to the parliament; I know no other post than the one M. Fouquet fills." "Exactly so, my dear counselor." "You are not over fastidious, monseigneur; but before the post can be bought, it must be offered for sale." "I believe, Monsieur Vanel, that it will be for sale before long." "For sale! What, M. Fouquet's post of procureur-general?" "So it is said." "The post which renders him so perfectly inviolable, for sale! Oh! oh!" said Vanel, beginning to laugh. "Would you be afraid, then, of the post?" said Colbert, gravely. "Afraid! no, but--" "Nor desirous of obtaining it?" "You are laughing at me, monseigneur," replied Vanel; "is it likely that a counselor of the parliament would not be desirous of becoming procureur-general?" "Well, Monsieur Vanel, since I tell you that the post, as report goes, will be shortly for sale--" "I cannot help repeating, monseigneur, that it is impossible; a man never throws away the buckler, behind which he maintains his honor, his fortune, his very life." "There are certain men mad enough, Vanel, to fancy themselves out of the reach of all mischances." "Yes, monseigneur; but such men never commit their mad acts for the advantage of the poor Vanels of the world." "Why not?" "For the very reason that those Vanels are poor." "It is true that M. Fouquet's post might cost a good round sum. What would you bid for it, Monsieur Vanel?" "Everything I am worth." "Which means?" "Three or four hundred thousand francs." "And the post is worth--"